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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64615
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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"Better late than never" (my mom used to say)!
[Edited on 2-15-2021 by David K]
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Mulege Canuck
Nomad
Posts: 386
Registered: 11-27-2016
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Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  | I do a lot of back roads, and have the pin stripes on my Trooper to prove it. I would hate to see what an eight foot trailer would look like after
one of my trips!
Wheel placement is another issue that would get complicated with a wide wheelbase camp trailer. I would stick with one that is close to what your tow
vehicle is.
I have made several trips pulling a utility trailer full of gear behind a 2 door Kia Sportage with no problems. Oversize, low pressure tires give the
trailer a soft ride as well as good clearance! |
My Bigfoot camper is 8’6” wide. We head up in the mountains a lot and I have to brush out the roads in a lot of sections. I used a machete at
first but it was tough to get overhanging tree limbs that would tear the camper apart. I bought an electric pole saw. That thing is a game changer.
In no time I can brush out dense sections of the road and be on my way.
On the highway my worst part for me, is just after we leave the 5 and get back on Mex 1 heading south. That old section of road is narrow! I slow
right down and crawl past the first semi until the road gets a little better further south. Drive slow and be ready for washed out road shoulders and
deep pot holes at every corner. Stressful, but so worth it! Man I miss Baja.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9575
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Can you link the saw you have? Curious to check it out.
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bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 1-13-2005
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Yes the road is narrow and dangerous. I have driven Hwy 1 for 28 years and it finally bit me 3 years ago when I took a corner at 60 that I should
have taken at 55 (just south of Chapala), I swung wide and pulled it back and dropped the right front tire off the edge of the pavement. I then had
to wrestle the truck to a stop after having it cross the pavement 2 or three more times with my FourWheel camper on it. I looked in the mirror and
saw my offroad trailer fly open and scatter all of it's contents all over the road. It turned out that it had rolled, but was still on the
articulated off road hitch. I know it rolled because the chains were wrapped completely around the tongue. Had I not had that hitch, I believe the
trailer would have pulled the truck off the road.
It landed on it's wheels and had one bent wheel that I replaced and was able to drive home with my spare. I loaded everything back up that I could
fit it and strapped the lid down. Needless to say, the trailer ended up being totaled.
I had pulled trailers to Baja since 2002 starting with a boat trailer, and for 3 years our Casita (6'8" wide) before buying the camper and off-road
trailer. Were it not for my wanting to have some kind of boat down there (more than my kayak), I don't think I would haul a trailer. The road is too
rough on them. I think the high c/g of my off road trailer may have contributed to the rollover, athough the driving mistake was mine.
After 3 trips with our Casita I had to have the frame straightened, even though we never drove it over 10-15 mph on the 10 mile stretch of dirt
between La Ribira and Los Frailes. I think that was caused by hitting unmarked topes at speed.
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bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 1-13-2005
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BTW is the op still around?
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9575
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Good story, pretty scary. We carry the bikes on a carrier to avoid having to have a trailer.
I wouldn't be afraid to tow something here and there. But would never do it regularly. To dangerous and too much stress.
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Mulege Canuck
Nomad
Posts: 386
Registered: 11-27-2016
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https://www.amazon.ca/Sun-Joe-SWJ800E-Telescoping-Lubricatio...
This is a similar model. Mine is a Royobi. I plug it in to the inverter on my truck camper. A chord less battery powered model would work too. I
break it down into two pieces and store it behind the backseat of the truck. We have to brush out roads all the time for the camper, this just makes
it a lot faster.
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2280
Registered: 4-23-2006
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i tow on the length of hwy 1 often. never scratched anything. i just go a bit slower than some.
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3035
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Attention span varies for each person and is exacerbated by long stretches of concentration. Yup, it can be scary when a wheel drops of the
pavement. And luck if no damage to stuff or your life.
Narrow trailer the same width as the tow vehicle sure helps.
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